Happy kids on board – Tips & Hacks

18. Dezember 2018

I travelled to New York by myself last week, what a difference. I forgot what it was like to fly without a toddler. But in a few days, Emilian and I will be on the go again. This time our winter holidays include some short and long-distance flights. The first flight will be a short one, to Germany and as soon as the Christmas time with the family is over, we will be heading to the other side of the world again. Somewhere where Emilian and I travelled some years ago… we are heading back to Thailand!

The first flight I took with Emilian was when he was only 6 months old – which I have got to admit, was kind of a bittersweet experience. That time we travelled to Florida, to spend New Years with the family. After that, everything happened more natural and boarding planes became “just normal” for both of us.

Flying with a toddler is always challenging, especially as a solo parent. The single parent experience might seem slightly harder but it is definitely not impossible. Yes, things will happen. Your toddler might spill your coffee table with all your food on it. If your kid is starting crawl, the plane is their new catwalk and you can salute your sleeping plans. And yes, he/she will stretch their little legs against the sit in front of them, waking up the person sitting on it. But all these things, are just small details that are part of the whole adventure. And if you are still thinking “why did I agree to this trip!?” Trust me, boarding that plane was the right choice and just in case, here are some of the hacks I have come up with after my experiences with Emilian in the last years.

Get ready for the flight:

Start early enough so that you don’t forget anything or stress over small unimportant details. Write down things you believe are necessary for the flight and those necessary in your hand luggage. Lists help a lot, as you are minimizing the risk of forgetting something important… Remember Fridolin’s adventure?

Also have in mind that packing light is a must, especially when flying with kids. The pieces of luggage might be more, so make sure they are lighter.

Prepare the kids for the adventure:

Explain to your toddlers what the plan is, they have all the right to know. Where you are heading to? How many planes you are taking? Tell them what they can do once they are on the plane. Make it fun for them, make it seem like the most exciting thing is about to happen.

And also, don’t forget to advise them, it’s okay if the plane gets shaky. Kids will ask, so just give them all the answers to their questions.

Check-in and boarding time:

First of all things, make sure you do your online checking. That’s already some extra time saved and then comes the rest. Allow yourself a bit more time for check-in than if you travelled by yourself. Every kid needs a bit more time to do everything.

Don’t forget the security check. You will have priority when flying with small kids –Yay, no waiting! Security check with Emilian was never a problem. The least you worry and stress about the whole thing, the cooler and more natural they will see it.

Once at the gate, when travelling with kids, you also have the chance to board early. So, no need to stress out. Get yourself organized slowly and if you made it on time, let your toddler run around before getting into the plane.

Pressure problems:

To avoid aching ears, you can give your toddler a baby bottle during takeoff and landing, so he won’t have any problems with the pressure. Older children can be given anything else to suck or chew on – Candy, sweet or anything to keep them distracted and moving their mouth. If they are flying with a blocked nose or a cold, give them some nasal drops. Just 30 minutes before departure will be enough time for them to act and avoid them some unpleasant pressure in the ears.

Snack power:

Not every airline serves snacks and drinks directly once on board. Having some small bites in your bag is, of course, a great idea. Things like: a small bottle of apple juice, some bread rolls, bananas, biscuits, fruit pouches, rice waffles, HiPP jars will not only ensure some happy faces, but it will also serve as an entertainment for them. Snacks are great to kill some time, especially on long-distance flights.

Travel expert tip: There are exceptions for Baby food or snacks for toddlers at the Security Check – just take them with you!

Entertainment:

Long distance flights can be VERY, VERY long and sometimes a little bit challenging. Allow your toddler to pack his/her little bag with their favourite toys. It is always good to have your own.

Also, don’t forget to play the joker: tablets or Ipads. It might not be every parent’s favourite at home but during flights… a whole discovery. You can download some apps, interactive games or movies for them to watch during the flight while waiting at the gate. What about games? There’s a bunch of mini version of games to take with you on the plane. But UNO cards are a winner.

My (little) expert tip: When travelling long-distance flights, I always let Emilian get a toy at the airport shop. This will make them be super excited and of course… there goes another 30 minutes of entertainment while waiting!

Most importantly, stay calm:

If something goes wrong, the plane starts shaking, especially on long flights and you’re sitting with crying child – don’t panic. The other passengers are not looking at you as you think they are and also, they probably went through a similar situation at least once in their lives. And if not, who the F* cares. After all, kids cry. They are no puppets. Especially if they can’t speak yet. Don’t forget, you are a very cool mom (or dad), who’s allowing your toddler to discover the world with their own little eyes – You are doing a great job!